“(The late Cardinal Ambrozic) was to the point. He spoke deliberately, which I thought admirable,” Flaherty said.

Ontario Lt. Gov. David Onley recalled Cardinal Ambrozic’s final years of struggle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

“I think what he demonstrated was the triumph of faith. That’s why I think there’s such a tremendous outpouring,” said Onley.

Millie, a 65-year-old nurse who was born in Slovenia, said she felt connected to the cardinal. “For me, it’s special because he comes from the same country I do,” she said.

Cardinal Ambrozic’s work with immigrant communities was not lost on Teresita Manlapaz, 70, who came to Canada from the Philippines.

“He had a compassionate heart for refugees and immigrants,” she explained.

Mimi Poraz, 65, a retired midwife, visited Cardinal Ambrozic during his final years at Providence Healthcare. She recalled how the late cardinal had a statue of St. Thomas More in his room at the Cardinal Ambrozic Houses of Providence, a long-term care facility named in his honour.

For Orim R.M. Brimsacle, 74, of Saint John, N.B., the cardinal was an effective spiritual leader. Brimsacle was visiting a relative in Toronto and decided to line up for the Mass. He met Cardinal Ambrozic several years ago when the cardinal was Toronto’s auxiliary bishop.

“He seemed to get the job done without being too showy,” he explained.

Andy Stratford, who was near the end of the line, called Cardinal Ambrozic “one of the best cardinals in the world. He was very good for the people.” Stratford, 77, came to the church with a walker and said he was determined not to miss the funeral.

Constable Al D’Silva was among those who remained standing throughout the one-and-a-half-hour Mass in the Cathedral’s courtyard.

“I felt it important to pay respect to a man who served our faith community so faithfully for so many years,” he said.

{iarelatednews articleid="3397,299,3882,3810,292,170, 5932, 5938, 5940, 5946, 5948, 5951, 5955, 5957"}